James Urbaniak stars in the new Will Eno play Thom Pain (based on nothing), making its American premiere of the work Off-Broadway.

James Urbaniak in Thom Pain (based on nothing)Photo by Aaron Epstein

Previews begin Jan. 25 for the solo work opening Feb. 1 at Off-Broadway's DR2 Theatre for a limited run through April 3. Thom Pain (based on nothing) is billed as "a wry monologue in which an ordinary man, Thom Pain, muses on childhood, yearning, disappointment and loss, cataloguing the eternal agonies of the human condition as he draws his audience into his last-ditch plea for empathy and enlightenment."

The work debuted in London at the Soho Theatre as a reading, then played with Urbaniak at the Edinburgh Festival, before returning for a limited run at the Soho. Hal Brooks directs the work in the New York run produced Daryl Roth and Bob Boyett.

Eno recently won Newsday's George Oppenheimer Award as Most Promising Playwright for The Flu Season, which was produced by Rude Mechanicals at the Blue Heron Arts Center last season. Eno is an Albee protégé whose style has often been compared to that of the elder playwright.

Urbaniak — who recently appeared in The Rivals on Broadway — is the actor who has appeared in such edgy downtown shows as [sic] and The Universe, and indy films like "American Splendor" and "Henry Fool." He earned a Best Actor Award at the 2004 Edinburgh International Fringe Festival for his performance in the Eno solo. He is also known in voice as Dr. Venture on Cartoon Network Adult Swim's animated series "The Venture Brothers."

Tickets to Thom Pain (based on nothing) at the DR2 Theatre can be purchased at the box office, 103 East 15th Street, or by calling (212) 239-6200.